The strange goings on in Federal government contracting continue. In followup to last week’s post (read it if you haven’t already), my source sends this update;
Sequle: Well on the morning of 25 Janaury 2006, bidders sent an inquiry to their PWGSC Contract Authority – remember our bid validity expired today – and received a fax later this afternoon stating that Societ� Gamma (a private Ottawa firm) had been awarded $3.6 million to provide translation services for Treasury Board Secretariat. Apparently PWGSC still cannot discuss this matter with bidders and of course no one knows if this is an additional contract or if Lexi-tech International (owned by JD Irving) still gets to keep the original $3.6 million they were awarded in late December 2005. What to do, what to do?
And since this is a sequel, anyone having access to MERX should go to the Contract Awards link and view how many contracts were awarded on 23 January 2006 – The Immigration and Refugee Board posted contract awards for several translation contracts on that date (impeccable timing, ey wot?) – and this after the Project Authority at IRB had promised bidders on a weekly basis starting with the first week of December that results would be posted before Christmas. Then she didn’t respond to e-mails or phone calls either. And on election day, VOILA – results released.
Whatever are these people trying to hide? And are public servants allowed to lie or is that common human failing only something us common folk are held accountable for? Just asking. And of course documentation, mounds of it actually, exists for anyone who can help disseminate this.
Think of all the other millions of dollars awarded on 23 Janaury – this is just the tip of the heap of dead fish..
This is something the incoming government has to take a hard look at. If there is evidence that contracts were pushed through on behalf of favoured companies in anticipation of a government defeat, resignations and firings are in order.
On the other hand, perhaps this suggestion may work as well.
C’mon…get today’s 12-minute hate going already! I don’t have all day…
Put aside the “I would love to see some serious jail time handed out” feelings and I actually like the reality of the suggestion of immunity for testimony. Less time consuming, money and maybe better results. Those who would choose not to come forward would then be the ones criminally prosecuted.
You really are remarkable, Ti-Guy. For all the comments you place here and elsewhere, each and every one has been utterly devoid of meaningful content.
That’s a unique talent. Please continue wasting it.
Does anyone else smell ‘kickback’ here? Is this how the Liberals will finance the next election?
“Kickbacks”, as George suggests? Or maybe just present favor$ for future paybacks? The last chapters in the Liberal Party’s favorite serial, “Your Bucks are Our Bucks”?
A Yankee question: How long before Stephen Harper is Prime Minister Harper? How long do these transitions typically take in Canada?
CBC apologizes for ‘Harper-heil’ graphic, says it was a bad cut-and-paste job
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=8e6d1713-49c8-4a5c-a536-f237e369d49a
It appears that CBC got their ability to make up stories from the Liberals? This excuse isn’t even plausible….
If it really was a bad, bad, bad choice to capture ‘their’ (how is that descriptive?), and put the cursor over the ‘r’ to make it look like an ‘l’ (ell) then we have the stoopidist bunch of moron lack-wit non-technical bumpkins in the world working for CBC and we need to begin a fresh round of contract talks.
In other words CBC employees….make with the ‘heil’ to your new leader or walk…cause us “ordinary citizens” are fed up with your incompetence…
THe CBC can go to heil.
Kate, Ti-guy is like one of those little ankle-biter dogs you can’t seem to shake off your leg.
While we’re on the topic of humping legs (sorry Kate, I couldn’t resist!), here’s one of the funniest movie lines ever:
Cousin Eddie: “He’s cute ain’t he? Only problem is, he’s got a little bit a Mississippi Leg Hound in him. If the mood catches him rite, he’ll grab your leg and just go to town. You don’t want him around if your wearing short pants, if you know what I mean. Word of warning though, if he does lay into ya, it’s best to just let him finish.”
Kate,
I agree with you re Ti-Guy except for the “unique” part. It really seems to be a common condition of the left. Everyone I spoke to, pre-election, who was against the conservatives had the same rabid attitude and the same reasons (for lack of a better word). Harper will do this and Harper will do that….. All taken directly from the liberal talking points. When faced with any type of logical argument, their response is to repeat the talking points but much louder, this time. It was fun watching them lose but I think their real goal was much more insideous.
Note that, as a Conservative, I chatted with 2 types of people before the election:
1) other Conservatives who agreed with my reasoning and,
2) anti-conservatives who ranted forever but had no logical base.
In either case, there was no chance for me to sharpen my debating skills. Maybe they’re purposely refraining from using their brains to eventually make the rest of us as obtuse as they are?
I think the Truth And Reconciliation idea is excellent and maybe necessary. I’d argue that no Canadian is more than two degrees from Liberal corruption. For example, if it turns out that the leaks alleged in the Income Trust scandal were directed to some sort of retired persons’ association and acted upon by a few thousand Canadian retirees….then what? That’s just one example of 218 or so one could name.
Good post Kate.
How very conservative to offer up a problem along with a possible solution.
I like the idea of getting this dirty issue out of the way quickly.
Our government needs to focus on issues of governance, and let these other issues lead where they may.
BTW, i do not subscribe to the idea that PMSH has to be mindful of regional, ethnic or minority issues when selecting his cabinet. This should play a part in his deliberations only if qualifications for the job are similar. He must chose the best person for the job.
After all, our new government has pledged to govern for all the people of Canada.
“We have to find out whether we�re still Canada or have become some other place.”
We have indeed become some other place and I hate it!
We should start a sell CBC CAMPAIGN! One would think that Peter Mansbridge was elected PM. GOD he makes me sick. It is the job of a reporter to report the news not become party of the news. CBC has become this pathetic narrow minded little media that puts their spin on everything Canada hears. I hope part of the Accountablity act will have an little area towards public funds media. If they don’t want to just report the news, maybe they should talk to some of their Liberal friends and start up their own network. Oh, I forgot the Liberal’s are broke, too bad, so sad….
On a related note, the Relocation Scandal has yet to make the news and I certainly think that it should.
WHO was it that spent the 800 nights at a luxury hotel in Cancun last year and WHY? All on the taxpayers’ dime.
That’s not including the other ones such as in Waikiki.
Reference again: conservativelife.com/blog/index.php/canada/2006/01/17/relocation_services_ii_dirty_details_rev
(attach your own w’s)
If the news will not pick this up then I’d wonder if some of them were involved.
I admit that is foil hat thinking but this story is certainly worthy of coverage.
The red machine has to oil the wheels, maybe they use suntan lotion too.
Word is that Martin, with one of his last official acts, stroked a payoff cheque(s) to Dingwall. Please confirm the amount(s), Pat. >>>>
Canadian Gum-Gum-Gum* Registry:
Exhibit # 10, 456,780
Dingwall asked about severance package
Paul Samyn, Winnipeg Free Press
David Dingwall testified yesterday that he asked Revenue Minister John McCallum about a severance package just before he voluntarily resigned — amid controversy — as president of the Royal Canadian Mint Sept. 28.
In a feisty performance before a House of Commons committee, in which he claimed to have been a victim of unfair attacks, Dingwall also opened the door to suing the government if he didn’t receive a golden parachute.
The Chretien-era cabinet minister’s much-anticipated testimony came as the Liberals continue to face what Dingwall himself called a firestorm of controversy over his spending at the mint, which included lavish meals, golf club memberships and round-the-world travels.
Dingwall came out swinging at the beginning of the two-hour grilling, reading from a statement in which he defended all of his spending as legitimate while praising his record as the man in charge of the mint.
“Let me state again, although all of my expenses were thoroughly scrutinized during my tenure, should the independent audit discover any error, I will repay the corporation fully,” he said. “However, I make this promise lightly knowing the rigours at the mint, I have full confidence that no errors were made.” And then waving a pack of Dentyne gum, Dingwall shot back at those who have called him a cheapskate for billing the mint $1.29 for the chewing gum. >>>
http://www.patmartin.ca/ndp.php/patinthenews/dingwall_asked_about
* Dingwall’s $1.29 CDN cud of gum.
Rich,
I agree that the relocation services should be given a strong glance. And now that the Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that in awarding the government relocation contract to Royal LePage, PWGSC did not properly evaluate the competing bid, I feel the relo contract should be overhauled by the new Minister. In it’s ruling the Federal Court found that the competing bidder should receive monetary relief. What about Realtors who have lost so much due to this contract? Who speaks for them?
Soci�t� Gamma Inc. v. Canada ( Department of Secretary of State )
27/4/94
Applications for orders preventing respondent from disclosing information pertaining to contracts for translation services…
http://reports.fja.gc.ca/fc/1994/fic/v3/1994fca1325.html
How bizarre. It’s not like you’re trying to protect your competition from learning your trade secrets.
rusty: Good point, I never thought of that.
This certainly needs public attention…it stinks big time.
The elements of a huge scandal are here…waste…mismangement…favouritism?…cronyism?….links to media?….and I wonder if kickbacks were involved.
“…WHO was it that spent the 800 nights at a luxury hotel in Cancun last year and WHY? All on the taxpayers’ dime…”
I’ll go on hunch & suggest that majority of the expenses incurred in exotic locations have been spent by those in DFAIT:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexico-city/general/points_of_service-en.asp
Mismanagement or reckless spending of taxpayer’s money. Probably. Afterall is it really necessary to have 10 Consulates or Embassies in Mexico?
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexico-city/general/points_of_service-en.asp
JM…good points….and who needs all the time in Waikiki…on the beach yet?
And the casino expenses….and….and.
Steven let’s get the whistleblower protection act going in high gear and offer rewards for turning in bureaucratic offenders.
You really are remarkable, Ti-Guy. For all the comments you place here and elsewhere, each and every one has been utterly devoid of meaningful content.
I beg to differ. That bash-Toronto hate-fest just below was yesterday’s 12-minute hate, was it not? Really, Kate…You should be happy that you have readers who are capable of recognising and appreciating the real significance of what you write, and it’s particularly disingenuous of you to pretend to be so startled when they point out to you directly that they, indeed, have.
…heh, heh….and heh.
…What about Realtors who have lost so much due to this contract? Who speaks for them?….
The Realtors who have lost out are those who are neither a Royal Lepage salesperson or a ‘recommended’ RL agent. The big winners of course have been Royal Lepage & Brookfield (Brascan).
So is there anyone who posts that can say with certainty that this will be investigated thoroughly?
So Ti-gu baby,
You bring a new form of the lefts powerful and only argument.
“You’re a racist,or homophobe , or some other “ist” or “obe”, would this case be Torontophobe or ruralist”?
Don’t bother responding nobody cares.
Thanks for your input, duly noted!
It speaks sez:”I beg to differ. That bash-Toronto hate-fest just below was yesterday’s 12-minute hate, was it not? ”
Who “hates” TO? As always reactionary lefty foamers have as much trouble restraining rampant emotion as they do defining them. On the whole, no one “Hates” TO per se. It’s just that the 98% of Canada that choses not to live there is sick of being dictated to from it’s denizens. The reaction to being held hostage to myopic,naive urban politics is not “hate” as much as nausia or civil outrage….get a grip on your emotions and learn to properly define them.
JM,
You left out the Mortgage Center and CIBC. When a transferee visits a RLRS counsellor upon receipt of a posting message(military) they are given a business card directing them towards a Mortgage Center broker. In most of Canada, the CIBC owns the Mortgage Center. Not surprising that CIBC does a landslide business in government employee mortgages.
“…You left out the Mortgage Center and CIBC…”
You’re right. And certain van-lines, appraisers, hotels, etc.
A large part of why certain vendors are selected has to do with ‘volume discount’ pricing that unfortunately the little guy can’t offer and if they do eventually get bought out by one of the big players.
Uh…minions? For future reference, I really only plan on addressing Kate here and what she writes; it’s her blog and her writing and what she says (or, what she says by not saying it) is really all that interests me, for the most part.
Wazzup Bi-guy? Are ya chicken of the rest of us?
JM,
I’ve seen emails addressed to Realtors that included the words “thank you for your past assistance but the Army has assigned us ANOTHER (emphais mine)realtor”.What would you make of that?
The Army, not the employee, pays the Real Estate commission so they get to assign the realtor.
I suppose if the employee offered to pay their own commission they could probably choose their own realtor. But who in their right mind would do that?
JM,
The Army doesn’t pay the real estate commission. All commissions are invoiced through RLRSL as are invoices for transport, home inspections, lawyer fees, appraisals,etc.
The Army couldn’t care less which Realtor, lawyer or home inspector a soldier’s uses. What some military members are led to believe is that because they receive an order to report to the RLRS counsellor, the COUNSELLOR is a part of the military organization. Even if the Counsellor doesn’t ASSIGN a Realtor, but gives the implication that the member SHOULD use a certain company for his move, to a military person an implied order is as good as a direct order. The younger troops are very vulnerable to such implications.
Do you really feel warm and fuzzy with the Mandela (save-our-poor-misguided-inbred-cousins) solution?
Please, do nothing to allow the liberal wasters to escape justice – real JUSTICE, as opposed to what passes for (liberally-botched) legal process?
The immediate problem may be to identify trustworthy investigators, to collect the evidence and USE IT?
Cut and paste mistake my rump. They are just a sleezy bunch of trough eaters. It’s time to get rid of the CBC. I watched it today and the biased reporting that has been going on since the election is just shameful. Our tax dollars to keep that bunch of commies in a job has to stop. They can’t even call themselves reporters. What they are are a bunch of wannabe national enquirer goons Don’t think any of them would make it in the outside world.
RLRSL pays the R/E commission, home inspections, fees etc. on BEHALF of the Army/DND/federal government. Zero dollars come out of the pocket of RLRSL.
Doesn’t matter what RLRSL may or may not imply. There’s a big difference between ‘SHOULD use’ vs ‘MUST use’. They SHOULD be reading their manuals and SHOULD be asking to find out exactly what the ‘rules’ are.
JM,
You’re right. Zero $$$$ come out of RL pocket….but a lot goes in. As to reading the manuals, I have asked a lot of military types why they don’t read them and the answer is always the same.”Do you know how short handed we are? WHO has time to read all that s**t?” PWGSC describes the contract as an Open Broker Contract but none of my military clients have ever heard a RLRS consultant refer to it as such.
Like everything in life you have to take the time…in this case the time to read the s**t. And if there’s too much verbiage then isn’t it up to the government or RLRS to simplify.
They’re too busy? What they work 24 hours day? They can’t find 1 hour to read? Reality is people are lazy. It’s easier to pick up the phone & speak to some female with a pleasant voice then it is to read pages of boring text.
If you’re worried about your clients isn’t it just a matter of comparing the contract with the manual to find out what’s meant by ‘open broker’?
Rich, Rusty Smith, JM…800 nights in Cancun.
Agreed this should be made more of in the media.
===================== some examples========
Disney World Resort, Lake Bueno Vista for $25,000 in Jan 2004
Marriott Resort and Spa, Waikiki Beach, Honolulu for $97,410.00
Laguna Brisas Resort and Spa, Laguna Beach California for $25,000 in Jan 2005
Le Meridien Resort/Spa, Cancun Mexico for $25,000 in 2004 and another $25,000 in 2005
Melia Santo Hotel and Casino, Santo Domingo for $25,000 in Jan 2005
November 2002 until October 2005 total:
$2,243,154,797.00
More … TonyGuitar.Blogspot.com TG
TonyGuitar,
The items you refer to were covered on the blog ConservativeLife before the election. The MSM had full knowledge of this “relocation services” scandal and did nothing. Any suggestions on how to get the MSM to cover it?
JM,
What is your basis for understanding the military mind?
I made the original post hoping that this would not die , that it would get into the media and that it would not be lost in the huge agenda that faces our new Conservative government members.
Their plates will be full for a long time but I have faith in them.
I’m stumped by this story not having wheels.
Perhaps the best thing that can be done is to just trust that full investigations will take this situation into account.
Generally speaking when it comes to relocation the ‘military mind’ is no different then the mind of any other person who happens to be transferred by their employer.
Rich,
I refuse to let it die. I will barrage my MP so much over this that he will do something or quit politics!I suggest you do the same.
JM,
So, then, your comment, “Reality is that people are lazy”, wasn’t to attack our troops who don’t have enough time to read a two inch manual on moving.
Rusty, ….the complaints, the disappointments, the confusion, the feelings of being overwhelmed by the process, are generally felt by all transferees & and their family, whether they’re in the military, or a CEO of a big corporation.
Oh yeah, and no one ever likes to read those manuals.
JM,
Sounds like you’ve “been there.. done that”.:)
Rusty: Yep. Too many to count.
First Time Commentor! Love your site Kate..re:
relocation scam – I phoned the Conservative H.Q. on Jan 18 and asked if they were aware of this and they confirmed that they were. Told them they should release info before election. Comment back was that he thought “Advertising was looking into it”..Told him just to run the video!
The question.. Why does this story have no legs?
Is Royal Lepage a big national buyer of media space for Real-Estate listings and fiancial products?
Bingo! Don’t annoy the advertiser.
Toronto Sun, *what about principle?*
Ottawa Gazette, *OK, you go first!*
Canada.com, * Aww, forget it. Canad1ans never
picket the media anyway. TG